The St Andrews community was rocked in October last year when it was announced that celebrities Tiger Woods and Justin Timberlake had plans to turn the well-loved NPH Cinema into a sports bar.
Since then, the duo’s company – T-Squared Social – have amended their plans, now vowing to keep two screens in the cinema after the community uproar.
In March the St Andrews Film Festival – which initially began the petition against the plans – announced “victory” after reading this update.
The company have now submitted an official planning application with Fife Council.
The planning statement reads: “Importantly, the delivery of this entertainment and hospitality attraction will enable a cinema offering to be maintained in St Andrews, while saving the current historic building.”
Only screen 3 will be kept on for cinema use, however, with screen 1 being utilised instead showing live sport and hosting “enhanced movie experiences”.
The plan is to combine entertainment with dining at the New Picture House cinema.
This will involve “interactive entertainment uses, including sports simulators, electronic darts and table football”.
Plus a bar, dining area and event space.
‘I was in shock’ says St Andrews Film Festival founder
Boris Bosilkov, founder and director of St Andrews Film Festival, led the charge against the renovation, alongside the charity’s curator Ash Johann Curry-Machado.
“I was in shock,” says Boris, recalling when he first heard of the plans.
“As a knee jerk reaction, we started a petition to stop this luxury bar ruining our only cinema,” explains Boris.
“Very, very quickly we got a lot of support which was very good to see. And very encouraging.
“We managed to be heard, and we kind of stopped them in their tracks which was good.
“I think St Andrews deserves more than just turning its landmark of a cinema into yet another sports bar.
“With virtual golf literally five minutes walk from an actual golf course.”
‘New era for the picture house and St Andrews’
Boris, 28, now believes the changes which will be made to the New Picture House Cinema will actually be an improvement.
“I think it’s going to elevate it because [it will be] bringing in a more revolutionised perspective to viewing film,” he says,
“There will still be a dedicated cinema space, which is good, but the main auditorium will sort of be like The Oscars.
“Where you have the stage, the big screen and the tables which you can turn into a cinema whenever you’d like really.
“And in the meantime, when it’s not, let’s say, the festival, it could just be a bar where people can enjoy some food or a drink.
“The collaboration between the festival and the NPH will bring a new era for the picture house and St Andrews.
“Being sponsored by Justin Timberlake and Tiger Woods, I think that this is a really good step and it’s a step in the right direction.
“I think it will bring a lot more people to enjoy the cinema, and our wonderful international selections.
“I think this will really be good for everyone.”
A bar area, says Boris, will aid collaboration between filmmakers.
“I see it all the time at other film festivals,” says Boris.
“Everybody is eager to speak to people after the film. Having a space where you can meet fellow filmmakers, or meet the audience that have just seen the same film that you have, is major.
“You are able to speak about what you have seen, make connections and learn from one another, and I think that is the space it is going to become.”
‘It’s sad that it’s not going to be the NPH cinema as it was’
Julie Wijkström is the managing director of St Andrews eateries The Adamson, Hatch and The Physician.
For Julie, while the loss of the cinema as it was is sad for the community, the opportunity that this will bring with it must be seen as a positive.
“I’ve taken my children there for a long, long time,” says Julie.
“They’ve got little kiddie showings on a Saturday afternoon.
“It’s wonderful that the cinema is there.
“It’s sad that it’s not going to be the cinema as it was.
“And I know a lot of people felt very strongly that they didn’t want it to go, and I understand that.
“Change for everybody is hard sometimes when you’ve known something so long.”
T-Squared Social opened their first venue in September 2023, in New York.
“For me when I heard, wow, it’s going to be T-Squared that’s in Manhattan,” continues Julie.
“And that’s the only other place it is, and it’s coming here to the home of golf? I thought that’s amazing,” Julie adds.
“Now they’re bringing their concept to St. Andrews.
“I think it will bring more business into town.
“It’s going to be an enhancement.
“They’re going to bring another entertainment [venue] into St Andrews, which is great for our community, it’s great for young people, families and students.”
‘I welcome to the town anything that is going to make the town better and better’
The Adamson was renovated to become the restaurant it is today back in 2010.
A historical building in St Andrews itself much like the New Picture House, there was some resistance from the community when the building’s interior was remodelled.
“When it comes to a town with so much heritage, I really respect that and that a lot of people worked there and they felt very passionate that it looked a certain way,” adds Julie.
“But as a business person, I welcome to the town anything that is going to make it better and better.”
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